Deuteronomy 24:16. Not be put to death If the one be free from the guilt of the other’s sin, except in those cases where the sovereign Lord of life and death, before whom none is innocent, hath commanded it, as Deuteronomy 13:15; Joshua 7:24. For though God do visit the father’s sins upon the children, (Exodus 20:0.,) yet he will not suffer men to do so. read more
Protection for the disadvantaged (24:1-25:4)Various laws guaranteed protection for defenceless people who might otherwise be exploited. A woman who had been divorced was free from interference by her previous husband. He had to respect the decency of marriage, and had no right to send her away then take her back as he pleased (24:1-4; cf. Matthew 5:32; Matthew 19:3-9). A newly married man could not be forced into the army till at least one year after marriage (5; cf. 20:7). A poor person who... read more
for the children. This is Jehovah's law for man. His own right of judgment remains. Compare 2 Kings 14:6 . 2 Chronicles 25:4 . read more
LAWS OF JUSTICE"The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers: every man shall be put to death for his own sin. Thou shalt not wrest the justice due to the sojourner, or to the fatherless, nor take the widow's garment to pledge; but thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in Egypt, and Jehovah thy God redeemed thee thence: therefore I command thee to do this thing."Deuteronomy 24:16 is taken by some to mean that there is... read more
Ver. 16. The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers— See what we have said respecting this subject on Exodus 20:0. It is supposed by some, that there was a law in Moses's time, among the AEgyptians, or other neighbour nations, that relations should suffer for the crimes of relations. Thus Ammianus Marcellinus tells us, that by the law of the Persians, in the case of desertion, and some other crimes, the whole kindred... read more
16-18. The fathers shall not be put to death for the children—The rule was addressed for the guidance of magistrates, and it established the equitable principle that none should be responsible for the crimes of others. read more
Individual responsibility 24:16The Israelites were not to punish children for the crimes their parents committed. To do so charged them with guilt unjustly.". . . it was a common thing among heathen nations-e.g., the Persians, Macedonians, and others-for the children and families of criminals to be also put to death (cf. Esther ix. 13, 14 . . .)." [Note: Keil and Delitzsch, 3:420.] In the cases where God executed the families of criminals, He may have done so because the family members were... read more
Laws regarding Divorce, Pledges, Man-stealing, Leprosy, Justice, and Gleaning1-4. The Law of Divorce. The right of the husband to divorce his wife is here acknowledged but is guarded against abuse. There must be some good reason for the separation; it must be done in a legal and formal manner: and it is final. If the. woman is divorced a second time, or becomes a widow after remarriage, she is not free to marry her first husband.1. Some uncleanness] RV ’some unseemly thing.’ The Heb. is... read more
(16) The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers.—A special note of the observance of this precept by Amaziah son of Joash is noticed both in Kings and Chronicles. See marginal references. It was not observed by the Persians in the case of Daniel’s accusers (Daniel 6:24).The case of Achan, who “perished not alone in his iniquity,” falls under a different head. See Notes on Joshua 7:0. read more
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Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Deuteronomy 24:16
A caution addressed to earthly judges. Among other Oriental nations the family of a criminal was commonly involved in his punishment (compare Esther 9:13-14). In Israel it was not to be so; compare marginal references. read more